Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Seamans.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I took a strange path getting to where I am now with Local Maker. At the time some of the twists and turns didn’t seem to fit together towards a broader goal but looking back now I can see so clearly how all of these distinct decisions lead me here.
I grew up in rural Vermont and from the beginning was exposed to hard work, creativity and my parents reinforced a mentality that you could do and be anything. At the University of Vermont, I fell in love with the types of problems we explored through economics and ended up getting my Master’s in Economics from Boston University. From there, I took a detour into the business world and found myself working for a cyber-security software start-up. After seven years being immersed in all aspects of sales, marketing, operations and strategy, I like to say I had earned my MBA from the “school of hard-knocks”. My time there was invaluable to me and I learned a ton but the future I was creating felt less and less like the life I wanted to live.
I have always loved to work and work hard, but I found myself disconnected from the job I was doing. As I took a step back and really visualized what I wanted my life to look like, I saw myself running my own small business and having a real tangible impact on my community. Local Maker was born in April of 2017 and has already grown into a business I am incredibly proud of, focused on supporting American craft and neighborhood small businesses.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anyone who says they haven’t struggled, is lying.
Thankfully, the biggest challenges I have to overcome are my own insecurities and as I have started to see success and build a new community around me all of that gets a lot easier.
Leaving a company and people you care deeply about to pursue a dream is both exciting and terrifying. I left behind financial security, a successful and established career path, and things like health insurance…all because it just didn’t feel right, and I wasn’t happy. It is very tempting to second guess yourself and question your decision making, especially in those moments when you aren’t really sure how you’ll make it work.
I have had a lot of preparation throughout my life for what I am doing now, but when you are building something totally new you really have to trust your gut because no one can see it the way you do.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Local Maker – what should we know?
Local Maker is a platform for connecting shoppers, retailers and artisans to feed the small business ecosystem and shape the future of our communities. I believe we can take control of how our communities look by thinking differently about how we shop. By shifting dollars toward small businesses doing big things, we show support for those already doing the hard work and encourage others to start. LM helps this happen in two ways: through the LM Guide and a set of services for indie retailers and product brands.
The Local Maker Guide is a virtual resource, curated based on a tight set of core values, to help shoppers find great indie retailers whether at home or on the road. You can trust that when you see the “Local Maker Approved” sticker in a shop window you will not be disappointed. These businesses are a reflection of each-other: if you like one, you will love the rest.
The criteria for endorsement of a shop are:
1. Independently owned and operated in the region in which they are based.
2. Commitment to selling handmade, local, vintage/repurposed or sustainable and eco-friendly goods whenever possible.
3. Aligns with the LM aesthetic, places a strong emphasis on design, quality and customer experience.
All that said, there is no LM Guide without the shopkeepers and artisans working hard every day to build their businesses and delight their customers. Local Maker offers services geared towards helping product brands and retailers run successful, fulfilling businesses that keep customers coming back over and over again. The big differentiator between Local Maker and others is that this is not consulting. LM becomes an extension of your business and provides services like wholesale management and strategic sourcing in line with your vision and brand values. Our partnership gives you time and confidence to move forward and achieve your goals.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Integrity is something that is critical to every business but especially so when you are taking on key responsibilities for part of your client’s business. My clients know that I treat their brand as if it was my own and that is essential for our success.
I’m the type of person who will give it to you straight even if my opinion isn’t the popular one. In consistently doing so, I have built trust that when I say something is good, it is good, and when I make a recommendation it is based on a lot of consideration. You can’t replace trust with your customers, employees or followers once it’s gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.localmaker.com/
- Email: info@localmaker.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localmaker/
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
